New snake species found at Mt. Qomolangma

LHASA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese scientists have discovered a new species of brownish pit viper in the largest scientific study since the 1970s on wildlife at Mount Qomolangma, known in the West as Mount Everest.

A genetic analysis revealed Protobothrops Himalayanus, which was first spotted at Jilong Valley in southern Tibet Autonomous Region in 2012, to be a new snake species, Hu Huijian, co-chief of the research team, told Xinhua on Thursday.

The new species was named in honor of its home, the Himalayas, said Hu.

The discovery, published in "Asian Herpetological Research," an international authoritative academic journal, is more evidence of Tibet's biodiversity, he added.

Currently, there are 12 valid species in the genus Protobothrops, of which seven are known to inhabit China and many of them prefer mountain areas at high elevations.